The class is intended to provide a broad overview of Rome's history from its founding in the 8th century BCE to the end of Late Antiquity in the 7th century CE. It aims at showing the influence of the cultures surrounding Rome in its formative centuries, the transformation of Rome from a republic to an empire, the development of Greco-Roman culture, the impact of Christianity and the collapse  of the West and survival of the East. In addition, it looks at the legacy of Roman culture.